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Scotsman
7 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Ecstasy and heartbreak for Hearts stars past and present in Premiership play offs
There was a mixture of joy and despair in a high stakes game littered with Hearts connections. Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hearts stars of the past and present have been sampling the contrasting tastes of the play-offs after Livingston got the better of Ross County. It was not third time lucky for the Staggies who again found themselves in the Premiership's 11th spot, losing 5-3 on aggregate to the Lions over two legs. It looked as if they were going to clinch safety again in their third successive play-off when goals by Joshua Nisbet and Ronan Hale built on a 1-1 draw at Almondvale, but Lewis Smith's solo effort was the catalyst for their downfall. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Strikes by Danny Wilson, Robbie Muirhead and Tete Yengi sealed an instant return to the top flight for Livi after relegation last term. In the relegated corner, former Hearts midfielder Don Cowie is currently Ross County's manager, with an ex Jambo in Connor Randall pairing Hibs loanee Nohan Kenneh in midfield. Livingston reaction to play-off success In the Livingston end, Hearts loanee Macaulay Tait came off the bench in Dingwall, having featured regularly since his temporary switch from Tynecastle. Then at the back was 2012 Scottish Cup-winning hero Ryan McGowan alongside Wilson, who won the Championship in maroon. Academy graduate Jamie Brandon captained David Martindale's men while former Jambo Muirhead's stunning curling effort put Livingston fully on their way to the top flight. Former Hearts keeper Jack Hamilton was an unused sub. Brandon told Sky: "It's amazing. At the start of the season this was the goal to be back in the Premiership, to do it through the play-offs is really special. We showed that winner's mentality to go and win the game. It was unlike us [to go 2-0 down] - we gave away two slack goals but had full belief we could go and do something. Once we got the goal back it made everybody believe a bit more." McGowan added: "Fantastic. We were up against it, didn't have a great start but showed great character. Delighted to win." Ross County react to Premiership relegation Cowie said post match: "It was really difficult, we got ourselves in a fantastic position, two goals up, we should have never let that lead slip. Livingston put us under a lot of pressure in the first half but I thought we stood up to it and then we conceded a goal out of nothing. We showed our vulnerability and they took advantage of it. Congratulations to Livingston they deserve to go up on the basis of the two games. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "We have to take accountability for it because it's not good enough. We need to recognise it's not good enough in terms of the position we were in in March. I hold my hands up that it's not been acceptable in terms of the form we had. Long term, I'm from the area, I know the impact this is having, the result tonight, it hurts. However, I think David [Martindale] is a prime example in terms of getting relegated and coming straight back up. Whether I'm that man or not, time will tell but I've got a lot of hunger in me to do that. "We've done it before, we can do it again. Right now it really hurts, it's really sore to digest. Decisions need to be made tomorrow, people out of contract etc. But the support I've had from the chairman and chief executive in a really challenging time has been incredible so I'm really grateful for that. This is where I'm from, I've spent the best part of 16 years at this club. When I got the job of manager it meant everything to me and my family and I believe I was the right person, I believe I was the right person three months ago. We've had a really tough period and it's about recognising that and taking accountability for it."
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ross County 2-4 Livingston (agg 3-5): Analysis
Having survived the play-off final in the previous two seasons, the question was whether County could make it a Staggies found themselves in a three-way battle with St Johnstone and Dundee in the closing weeks of the season, with Saints finishing bottom and going down automatically and Dundee securing safety on the final day by finishing Hale's late penalty on Thursday had levelled the tie before he notched goal 18 of an impressive campaign by sliding in after Stephen Kelly's error, having set up Josh Nisbet's close-range opener. Hale continued to threaten to no avail as Livi turned the final overall goals were hard to come by for County. With 37, they were the Premiership's lowest now they and St Johnstone face the prospect of trying to bounce back at the first time of asking via next season's Championship.
STV News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- STV News
Livingston promoted to Premiership after comeback win over Ross County
Livingston have been promoted to the Premiership after defeating Ross County in a dramatic play-off second leg in Dingwall. With the tie finely poised after a 1-1 draw at Almondvale on Thursday, the sides faced a winner-takes-all match to decide who would be playing in the top flight next season and who would be in the Championship. Premiership side County raced into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Josh Nisbet and Ronan Hale, and looked to be set to stay up via the play-off for the third year running. Lewis Smith's solo goal revived Livingston's hopes and Danny Wilson headed in an equaliser before Robbie Muirhead scored a stunning goal to put his side in touching distance of promotion. County couldn't find a response and in the final seconds of the match Tete Yengi thumped in a fourth for his side to make it 4-2 on the night, 5-3 on aggregate and take Livingston back to the top division at the first time of asking. More to follow… Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Leader Live
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Jordan Amissah confident Ross County can finish the job in Premiership play-off
Ronan Hale scored a stoppage-time penalty for County to cancel out Danny Wilson's earlier opener for the Championship side at the end of the first half on the artificial surface in West Lothian. The Staggies' 23-year-old German goalkeeper believes that leveller was pivotal to their chances of tasting success in the second leg in Dingwall on Monday night. Amissah said: 'It was never going to be an easy game, but we stayed in the game, it's a tie over two legs and we've done our job. 'Ronan scores a brilliant penalty, it's never easy, those games, but we've done our job, now it's all about going back to Dingwall, on our ground and performing. 'So, very confident, we've shown in the past that we're a good team, and it's about doing that again. 'We've been a Premiership club for a reason, that's what it's about on Monday, to turn up and get the job done. 'I think over the last few games we've played very good first halves, now it's just about performing for 90 minutes and making sure we're getting the job done, the boys leaving it all out there. 'It's just about finding the moments of quality up the pitch and getting goals, and I'm sure the defence and me will do everything we can to keep the team in the tie.' It is the third successive season that Ross County have had to use the play-offs for survival, after beating Raith Rovers and Partick Thistle in previous years. Amissah, who signed from Sheffield United in December, initially on a short-term deal but who is now contracted until 2027, said: 'The boys have been talking about it, obviously. George Harmon can't stop talking about his last-minute goal against Partick. 'And obviously since I've joined, I've had a look at those play-off games, as the boys told me they've been in them the last two years. 'The fans have looked unbelievable in those games and really backed the boys, and that's what we need of them again on Monday. Be behind us, get behind us, and we will leave it all out there. 'Of course, I want to be in the Premiership, I've signed, and I want to help the team to stay there. 'I think when I signed that contract we had been on a very good run. Obviously over the last few league games we've not been getting the results, which made us be in that position we are in now. 'But I will leave it all out there and try and help the team to stay in the league.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Amissah 'very confident' County will 'finish the job' against Livingston
Jordan Amissah insists Ross County are "very confident" they will retain their Scottish Premiership status by defeating Livingston in the play-off final second leg. Ronan Hale scored a stoppage-time penalty for County to cancel out Danny Wilson's earlier opener for the Championship side at the end of the first half in Thursday's first leg. And the Staggies shotstopper believes that equaliser ensured they "done the job" before welcoming Livi to Dingwall tonight. "It was never going to be an easy game, but we stayed in the game, it's a tie over two legs and we've done our job," the German said. "Ronan scores a brilliant penalty, it's never easy, these games, but we've done our job, now it's all about going back to Dingwall, on our ground and performing. "So, [we're] very confident. We've shown in the past that we're a good team, and it's about doing that again. "We've been a Premiership club for a reason, that's what it's about on Monday, to turn up and get the job done. "I think over the last few games we've played very good first halves, now it's just about performing for 90 minutes and making sure we're getting the job done, the boys leaving it all out there. "It's just about finding the moments of quality up the pitch and getting goals, and I'm sure the defence and me will do everything we can to keep the team in the tie."
